DCCC thrilled about Clinton visit

By DENEESHA EDWARDS The Dispatch

Wednesday

Apr 23, 2008 at 1:42 AM

Davidson County Community College wants to educate students and the community, and school officials are hoping a visit by former President Bill Clinton on Wednesday will be an educational experience, said Myra Thompson, DCCC's public information and marketing coordinator."Anytime you have a former president coming, it's exciting," she said. "I've never been that close to a former president before. I'm looking forward to it."Thompson states that in addition to supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton attending Wednesday's event, people are going to come to the college just because Bill Clinton is a former president.Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign press office announced her husband's visit to Lexington on Sunday. He is scheduled to appear at the college from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. in the courtyard in a "Solutions for America" event to support his wife's presidential campaign.The college is not sponsoring the event, but it had a venue large enough to hold several Davidson County residents, said DCCC's president, Dr. Mary Rittling."We're open to any presidential candidate to speak," she said. "We have the space and venue to do that. We're here for the community."Teenie Sink Tilley, executive director of external affairs, said candidates visiting colleges shows the importance of education."All candidates realize the importance of community colleges," she said. "I'm glad attention is given to community colleges."Student Monika Bowers is a big supporter of Clinton who says she voted for him in the last two presidential elections and would vote for him again. She said she couldn't believe he was coming into town."It's absolutely fantastic," she said. "I would love to tell him, 'Hello Mr. Clinton, my name is Monika.' I would congratulate him on his presidency because he did a good job."Bowers, who plans to attend the event, said she just wants an opportunity to let Clinton know she appreciates what he did for the country."I would like nothing better than to shake his hand," she said. "That is my dream."Clinton is not the only president who will be on campus. Also on Wednesday, the college will host the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents conference, and nearly 80 people will be in attendance.The campus already had begun preparing for the conference by cleaning up. On Tuesday, workers from the college were seen cutting the grass, putting mulch down and picking up litter around the campus.Robin Wiggins, another student, is an ambassador for the college. Along with other ambassadors, she will help host both events. She said the Clinton visit will be a good thing."Everybody can form their own idea on voting," she said. "It gives the people of Davidson County an outlook on how they choose to vote. Some people will never get an opportunity to see a former president. It will be a big turnout."Carlann McCrary, also a student, agreed."It's good for the college for him to come here and bring attention to the college," she said.The college is being told few details about Clinton's appearance. Organizers do expect a lot of guests, but they do not know how everything will be set up or how parking will be handled because they are not in charge, said Tilley."They do not want to interrupt our operations," she said. "It's their event, and they're doing everything."Rebecca Parker, who teaches English as a second language at the college, said she can't wait to see Clinton. She plans on attending the event wearing a shirt she has with a picture of Clinton on the front that reads, "Elect Bill Clinton's First Lady." She bought the shirt in Washington last October."I can't wait to see him," she said. "This brings a lot of publicity to our college. This also put emphasis on our education at DCCC."Parker said she is hoping to get a picture of her shaking Clinton's hand to place beside her picture of her shaking the hand of former President Jimmy Carter."I am so excited," she said. "I hope I get to meet him."The last time the college had a president come to the school was in 1988 when George H.W. Bush came, Tilley said."It's historic that we're having a former president visit Davidson County," she said. "No matter what your affiliation is. People are interested in a former president."Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.

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